A constant danger, capable of disorienting the opposing defense, organizing but also scoring. This Thursday evening in Lisbon, Rafa Silva made life difficult at Olympique de Marseille. The French team lost on the Benfica pitch (2-1). The 30-year-old Portuguese international midfielder had a top-flight first period.
It was he who opened the scoring in the 16th minute of play. Rafa Silva first deflected the ball with one touch, in midfield, to accelerate the Lisbon counter-attack. Then he continued his run, recovered the ball and deceived Pau Lopez with a sharp right foot.
Rafa Silva has often demonstrated his accuracy, through his numerous one-touch deliveries or through his directions towards the wingers. The difference was obvious with Amine Harit, the Marseille playmaker. Although he made some good catches of the ball, the Moroccan was always out of time when shifting his partners to offer them striking positions.
Marseille approached the second half with the desire to play higher. It cost him dearly as Benfica punished him with a lightning counter-attack. On an almost exact copy of the first goal of the Portuguese club, Angel Di Maria fixed in the axis before shifting and being served in the area. He concluded with a touch of the ball (52nd, 2-0).
Launched in front of goal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ended up scoring, with a flat right foot, in the only attack accurately carried out by OM (2-1, 67th). The Gabonese striker therefore maintains hope before the return match, next Thursday at the Vélodrome stadium. This is already his 10th goal in the Europa League this season.
The Marseillais could have benefited from a penalty in the 55th minute. In his area, Joao Neves made a violent charge on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese striker collapsed. The video assistant reviewed the action but ultimately ruled that no obvious error had been made by Michael Oliver, the match referee.
OM, which already has a plethora of injured people, including Valentin Rongier and Jonathan Clauss, lost its left side to injury. Dribbled by David Neres, Quentin Merlin planted his foot in the ground and his ankle turned. He was taken out on a stretcher just before half-time (45th + 2).
